A Couple of Lies Review: Netflix’s A Couple of Lies takes a relationship complication and turns it into a crime thriller where one dead body is only the beginning of a series of crimes and a larger mess. What initially looks like a murder mystery gradually opens up into a series of crimes, confrontations and very uncomfortable secrets.
Spread across four episodes, the series wastes no time getting into the real issue. There is a missing tourist, two couples swapping their houses on vacation, a dead body and a list of questions that only become longer and push to question every character on screen. The narrative does not just rely on the question of who is responsible for the murder – Tom’s murder and keeps bringing up new information, making the character confront new advancements.
A Couple of Lies has “a couple” building a couple of lies. The series is a binge-worthy and entertaining crime thriller that understands the flavours of suspicion. Although certain developments become easier to predict midway through the series, the confrontations and the secrets revealed along the way keep things interesting. Emma Appleton’s Scarlett is really a character to watch!
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
A Couple of Lies Review: A Messy Murder Mystery
The series begins with the couples swapping their homes, which already gives enough room for a kind of awkwardness to begin with and complicated interpersonal dynamics to brew. However, things take a complicated turn when news of a missing tourist enters the picture. Carl and Helene, who are staying in the swapped property, then find a dead body, and suddenly what could have been an arrangement via the internet between two couples becomes the start of something messier and disturbing.
The writing of the series gradually expands into the central mystery, and I like the aspect as it does not simply introduce a murder, throwing in suspicious characters stretching over the episodes. The series instead opens up into a thread of events, moving back and forth in time, with each development adding a detail. The series can feel a little all over the place if you like linear stories because the constant movement of the time of events can confuse the viewers a bit, but it works well given the unravelling of the mysteries at the right moment.
Infidelity is at the centre of the narrative, and the series makes a rather good use of the relationships surrounding it. There is a constant sense that somebody knows more than they would admit, even when certain pieces start sitting in the right place. The characters’ interactions make you wonder if there are terms and conditions attached further. There is not much stretching, and the story moves along at a pace that is easy to finish in one sitting without getting bored.
Emma Appleton’s Scarlett Has an Intense Presence
The performances across the ensemble are gripping, and the characters have enough tension in the interactions to keep the narrative engaging even when the mystery becomes predictable. Emma Appleton’s Scarlett has a particularly intense on-screen presence. There is an interesting quality to the way she approaches the character; her presence adds a layer of unpredictability and a thirst to find answers. The character is also central to the series’ final confrontation.
Each character in A Couple of Lies seems to be performing with utmost honesty, and the performances are rather convincing. Each of them brings a certain amount of tension when they appear in the frame, and the show thus feels like a work of the ensemble rather than depending on one actor alone.
The Confrontations Keep Revealing New Secrets
As the episodes progress, the series gradually reveals the secrets surrounding the characters. It becomes increasingly evident that infidelity is involved, and the truth around Tom’s murder becomes somewhat evident somewhere halfway through the series. However, the confrontations that develop as part of the web built to get away with Tom’s murder keep the series engaging.
The final confrontation between Scarlett, Helene and Tom is particularly interesting as the series manages to hold the attention even when some of the larger developments become easier to crack. Another confrontation, which is between Carl and Helene, also comes as a little shock. The confrontations do not feel repetitive, and each one brings a new development to the table. The show is paced well without rushing through the exchanges and allows uncomfortable moments to play.
Carl’s Situation Adds Another Layer to the Building of the Narrative
Another interesting aspect of the series is Carl’s situation, which is established right from the start and gradually becomes a very important part of the narrative. His circumstances are not just introduced to be overlooked while the murder mystery enters the frame. The show keeps building on what has been established, allowing the situation to push the story further, giving the narrative a thread to follow.
While the central mystery is a big reason to keep watching, the additional character developments and secrets add layers that enhance the excitement around the watching experience.
Final Verdict
A Couple of Lies (Bytet) is an entertaining Netflix crime thriller that makes use of the four-episode runtime well. The premise of infidelity leading to a series of crimes is not really an unfamiliar concept; however, the writing keeps things engaging through the series of confrontations and developments, along with characters knowing things with us or after us.
Emma Appleton’s Scarlett is a highlighting character, while the performances across the ensemble make sure the interpersonal tension survives. The finale confrontation also gives the series an interesting hold even when some of the mystery becomes easy to anticipate midway.
This might not be the most unpredictable crime thriller, but it is a fun, gripping, binge-worthy series and explores various aspects of human lives all at once in a single series.
What do you like most about A Couple of Lies (Bytet)? Tell us in the comments.
Watch A Couple of Lies (Bytet) on Netflix.
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